Is this certification right for me?

We assume little awareness of the user experience & usability field. Our certifications are appropriate for anyone working in the creation of digital products and want to learn about the process, tools and techniques to create successful user experiences. The courses are not focussed on how to use specific software applications like Photoshop or Axure.

Venue

Cancellation Policy

We understand that the unexpected does happen sometimes. If you need to cancel your course then we will issue a full refund if you request a cancellation more than 4 weeks in advance of the start of your course(s). We provide a 50% refund for cancellations between 4 and 2 weeks before the start date of a course. No refunds when cancelling within 2 weeks of course start date. Instead of a refund we can also register you, at our discretion, for our courses at a later date, in which case no refunds will be given if the rescheduled course is cancelled.
When paying by invoice, a credit note will issued for refunds. Clients will need to settle any amounts outstanding on accounts if in debit. Akendi will transfer any amounts outstanding within 30 days if a client's account is in credit after application of a credit note.

In the unlikely event that we do not attain a minimum class size of 4 participants we will need to cancel the course. If this happens then we will inform participants 5 or more business days in advance of the course and we will issue a full refund to all registered participants or re-book your course to a later date if preferred. Akendi is not responsible for any travel or other costs incurred as result of a cancellation.

Copyright and recording

All Akendi course materials are copyrighted and owned exclusively by Akendi UK Ltd. Each participant of our training courses agrees not to copy, modify or publish training materials and handouts.

Akendi does not allow any audio / visual recording of any kind in our training sessions.

Is this training right for me?
We assume little awareness of the user experience field. The courses are appropriate for anyone working in the creation of digital products and want to learn about the process, tools and techniques to create successful user experiences. The courses are not focussed on how to use specific software applications like Photoshop or Axure.

Do I have to take all the courses in one week? OR can I spread them out?
Courses can be taken one at a time over a two-year period. However, by registering for the full certification you can pay for the certification, which works out to less than the individual courses when added up.

What are the prerequisites?
There are no specific prerequisites for the courses.

Can I register for the CXD/R/S certification, but take the courses one at a time over the year?
Courses can be taken one at a time over a two-year period. However, by registering for the full certification you can pay for the certification, which works out to less than the individual courses when added up.

If English is not my native language, do you require a TOEFL, IELTS or GRE score to attend?
Though English language test scores are not required for any of our courses, the course content revolves around abstract concepts and requires a firm grasp of the English language. We recommend a fairly high English language proficiency to ensure that all concepts and exercises are followed and understood (approximately TOEFL 80-90 score, IELTS 5.0 - 6.0 points, TOEIC 785-944 points).

Is there a cut-off date to register?
Registration will stay open until the start of training or a maximum number of students have been reached (16).

When do you post your training schedule?
We try to post at least six months out. When we have a new schedule we will post it on the website. If you would like to be notified of upcoming courses, please register to be notified via email (see the side column for sign-up).

> Payment

Do you offer any discounts?
Yes, we offer a student discount of 10% off individual courses. The student must be currently registered and have a valid student ID. A group discount of 10% is also available when three people from the same organisation register for the same courses at the same time. If more than six people are attending from your organisation, please contact training@akendi.co.uk to discuss custom training options

How can I pay?
Courses and Certification programs can be paid through creditcard. If requested, we will issue an invoice statement in addition to the pdf confirmation that is sent out as part of the credit card payment.

Is there a discount if I have to travel to attend? (Fly in)
Unfortunately, no discount is given for those who travel to take the training.

Do you accept personal cheques?
Currently, Akendi doesn't accept personal cheques. You can pay through credit card or invoice, to be completed prior to start of training session.

Can I pay over the phone?
Yes we can accept payments over the phone in exceptional circumstances and only by prior arrangement. However, wherever possible please use the online form for both registration and payment.

How can I have an invoice sent to me so I can submit it for payment?
To request an invoice, please contact training@akendi.co.uk.

Are there additional expenses aside from the course fees?
The cost of the course includes training materials and lunch. However, travel, other meals, and accommodation are not included in course fees if these are required.

> Certification Exam

Is Akendi certification recognized world wide?
Akendi UX training and certification is quickly becoming a recognized postgraduate certification for UX practitioners. We work hard to ensure our materials are current and our instructors are qualified to lead training in UX.

When will I see exam results?
Each certification requires a passing grade of 70% on the final exam. Results will be calculated and sent approximately two weeks after the exam date.

What if I fail the exam?
If you fail the certification exam, you can retake the exam with the next session. At this point the exams must be proctored by an Akendi representative and must be done in person. We do not currently offer remote or online exams.

The online registration form bundles all nine courses with the exam together. Is there any way I can register for the exam separately?
If you have completed the required courses, and when you are ready to write the exam, please contact us to indicate which exam session you would prefer to write with. There is no online registration required as we will verify your attendance at each course before adding you to the exam session.

Can I write the certification exam without taking all the courses listed?
No. All the required courses must be taken within a two-year time frame in order to write the certification exam.

What is the difference between CXD and CXR?
Akendi offers three types of certification: CXD (Certified User Experience Designer), CXR (Certified User Experience Researcher) and CXS (Certified User Experience Specialist). The Research and Design certification can be done in a weeklong intensive training. To complete both certifications qualifies you as a Certified User Experience Specialist.

> Travel

I'm travelling to attend the course and can't stay to write the exam. Do you offer the exam on-line or remotely?
Yes, we do offer the option to take an exam remotely for a small additional fee. You will need a quiet room, laptop with webcam and reasonably fast internet. Please contact us to discuss training@akendi.co.uk to discuss alternative arrangements before you register.

Is Akendi coming to my city?
Akendi regularly travels to deliver certification training. If you are interested in having your city host a session, and would like to be notified when that happens, please contact us at training@akendi.co.uk.

Where and when is the next course?
The time and location of the next courses are posted in the training section of the Akendi website. Please let us know if you'd like a training course in your location and we will take this into consideration.

Do you provide discounts on accommodation if I have to travel for the training?
No, Akendi does not currently have any relationships that can offer a discount on accommodation in all the cities we provide training.

Do you accept international students?
Students have traveled from outside of Canada and UK to attend our training programs. Akendi UK Ltd is accredited by the British Accreditation Council for Independent Further and Higher Education as a Short Course Provider. Participants from outside the EU can apply for a student VISA to attend our courses. Please contact training@akendi.co.uk to learn more.

> What to bring?

Do I need a laptop?
A laptop is recommended for the Information Architecture, Usability Testing and GUI Design courses.

Can I add course outcomes to my portfolio?
Though group work and hands on work is performed in the programs, the exercises are designed to develop skills and performance in UX, not to build a portfolio. Most courses are a blend of theory and practicum.

Do I have to complete the courses within a certain timeframe?
Most participants complete the certification within a one-week intensive program, however, if you are completing certification through individual courses you have two years to complete. If more time is required, you may request an extension by emailing training@akendi.co.uk.

> What is the Training like?

How big are the classes?
Class sizes vary from 5 to 16 participants. We limit the maximum number of participants to ensure enough opportunity for questions and discussions during the training sessions.

How do I know if the Akendi training programs will benefit me?
We recommend that you read through the course descriptions before registering to get a sense of the course content and outcomes. As we are not career counsellors we are not able to provide much guidance on your personal benefit.

Have previous Akendi certification participants been UX/UI designers looking for skill upgrades? Or prospective career changers as well?
We have found that both groups have been present in our training.

Is there any information on whether the training has helped find new employment in the field? Though we have received positive feedback on the impact that attendees have had in their respective jobs, we do not document nor actively collect long-term results.

Are the training materials available online or in PDF?
At this time we do not provide training materials in PDF or online.

What type of materials do you use in the course?
Each participant receives a handout and additional resources to be used during exercises. Participants of the certification track also receive a large poster of the Akendi Experience Thinking process.

What does a typical training day look like?
Doors open at 9:15 and we start at 9:30. There is a mid morning break around 11:00, lunch is at 12:30 to 13:30pm, with in the afternoon a break at 15:00. Each day ends between 16.30 and 17.00 depending on the conversation and any questions.

> Custom Training Courses

Do you offer custom training?
Yes, we offer custom UX training. A minimum group size of six is recommended. Please contact training@akendi.co.uk to discuss the options.

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